Five-year business visas to India from April 1
Multiple entry tourist permits will be issued within ‘few months’
Starting April 1, Indian missions in the UAE will start to “issue as routine” five-year multiple-entry business visas for Emiratis and expats alike, India’s ambassador to the UAE said yesterday.
Navdeep Singh Suri said the visas would be the new norm for “bonafide” business applicants travelling to India. His comments came during a wide-ranging discussion with the media at the consulate in Dubai.
Suri said applicants would have to submit biometric data “at least once” or be personally interviewed. He pointed out the visa would not be a visa on arrival, with travellers required to apply beforehand.
A consulate official said during the event that the visa would cost around Dh1,500.
The development will be followed by a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa to India in the “next few months”.
Suri said, in principle, the business visa will be offered to citizens and residents of the other five GCC countries but added that it was up to the Indian missions in those countries to announce when they would be ready to start the service.
Suri said the required hardware and staff must be in place.
The ambassador also said the process of awarding a new contract to handle Indian passport and visa applications to an outsourced company would be finalised in the coming weeks after a bidding process.
Citizens and residents of the UAE will, starting April 1, be “issued as routine” five-year multiple-entry business visas by Indian missions in the UAE, Delhi’s ambassador to the UAE announced yesterday.
Navdeep Singh Suri made the announcement at the Indian Consulate in Dubai during a wide-ranging discussion with the media.
He said the five-year multiple-entry business visa is “going to be the norm” for any bona fide business applicant — Emirati or expat — from the UAE. Also, in the “next few months”, the fiveyear multiple-entry tourist visas will start being issued similarly.
He said “technically, citizens and residents in all GCC countries” are eligible to apply for the five-year multipleentry business visa. However, it was up to the Indian missions in the other five GCC countries to announce when they will be ready to issue these visas.
The business visa referred to by Suri costs around Dh1,500, a consulate official said during the event. Suri said among the requirements for the visa was a submission of biometric data, “at least for the first time”, or an interview in person.
“Instead of coming to us four or five times a year, you apply once and you’re done for five years. For us, it’s also less traffic at our doorstep,” Suri said. He added that the move followed “a request from the UAE side and to facilitate trade” in line with India’s push as a businessfriendly destination.
Suri pointed out that the business visa he referred to “is not a visa on arrival” — travellers would have to apply beforehand, with all details to be found on the websites of the Indian missions.
The ambassador also said the process of awarding a new contract for handling Indian passport and visa applications to an outsourced company would be finalised in the coming weeks after a bidding process.
Currently, BLS handles the applications. It may or may not be awarded the contract again but it is anticipated that a new company will take over.
Suri said he had made a “surprise inspection” of a BLS centre yesterday morning and found “all the counters were manned”.
He added that the centre was busy but pointed out some applicants had showed up with family, adding to the number of people present at the centre.
Travel warning
Suri also warned Indians from going or sending workers to Yemen and other conflict zones, as reiterated by the Indian government.
“Despite all the warnings, Indians keep putting themselves in harm’s way by going to Yemen and other conflict zones. We have advised that it’s risky. Yes, you can make some extra money but is it worth risking your life?” Suri said.
“The Indian government has to take enormous risks to rescue them. It’s wrong, it’s irresponsible and it’s dangerous to go into conflict zones when there is clear government advice.”
The ambassador was flanked by Anurag Bhushan, the Indian Consul-General in Dubai. He said a new consul-general — identified only as Vipul — would be taking his place soon.